row tube, the ball will be impelled from the piece with a much lefs degree of velocity than if the chamber were shorter and wider, the charge of powder continuing the fame. Hence, alfo, it is eafy to conceive, that the powder fires the quicker the lefs diftance the grains lie from each other. Now fince of all figures under the fame circumference, the globe com tains the greateft fpace, fo that the particles or grains of powder it contains will lie nearer to each other than in any space of the fame magnitude; therefore there can be no doubt but the fame quantity of powder will fire fooner in a globular space than in a space of any other form. It should therefore be endeavoured to make the cavity behind the ball as near as poffible globular. For if it could be made exactly fo, the velocity of the ball would receive a confiderable increafe from fuch a figure. The effect would be fo much the greater if the powder could be fired in the middle, fince in this cafe the fire would extend difficulmany fooner to all the extremities. There feems to be ties which render this method impracticable. Perhaps fome experienced practitioner may find means to overcome thefe difficulties, and put these things in practice. It is fufficient for our prefent purpofe to have pointed out the circumstances which contribute particularly to the making a chamber to advantage, and to judge of their advantage and difadvantage. It is to be obferved, that the more the force of powder may be increased in this manner, the cannon ought to be the ftronger in the part where its greateft force is exerted.'

M. Euler afterwards proceeds to examine what diminution of velocity fhould be allowed on account of the powder's not firing at once and to fhew, by an analytical procefs, how the gradual firing of the powder may be eftimated by calculation: but the extracts we have already given muft ferve as fpecimens of this diffuse and elaborate performance. We shall only obferve, that, as Mr. Robins's other engagements and immature death, at the age of 44, prevented his adding the geometrical illuftrations and proofs which he intended, and executing his defign of publishing an enlarged edition of his New Principles of Gunnery, the prefent work will, in fome measure, fupply the lofs: and mathematicians, converfant with this fubject, will have an opportunity of examining the calculations of M. Euler, of comparing them with Mr. Robins's experiments and theory, and of refuting any objections which he urges against them, so far as they are erroneous and infufficient. The fubject of the initial velocity of a ball projected from a given barrel with a given. charge, is peculiarly important to the improvement of artillery, and deferves accurate investigation. M. Euler has many remarks on this problem, on the refiftance of the air, on the cause of the doubly incurvated motion of a ball, which he sup

Z3

poles

poses to be its figure, and not, as Mr. Robins conceived, its rotatory motion; on the compofition of gunpowder; on the quantity of charge for producing the greateft velocity; on the length of pieces, and on a variety of other particulars, tending to the improvement both of the principles and practice of gunnery the tables annexed to this work will ferve to facilitate the investigation of the true path of a projectile; more especially if it should be found, upon trial, that all cafes in gunnery may be folved by them with little more trouble than by the vulgar hypothefis of Galileo. R..s.

ART. II. Two Cafes of the Hydrophobia; with Obfervations on that Difeafe; together with an Accouut of the Cæfarian Section, as it was lately performed at Leicester. By J. Vaughan, M D. 8vo. 2 s. 6d. Payne. 1778.

HOUGH both the cafes here related terminated fatally; and though no noflrum for the cure of the hydrophobia, or even fuccessful method of treating it, is to be found in this little treatise; the Public are nevertheless obliged to the Author for the information which may be collected from these two hiftories of an obfcure and dreadful difeafe. The fymptoms are here minutely described, as they occurred; together with the methods which the Author purfued, in attempting to relieve the patients; as alfo the appearances which were obferved after death, on examining those parts which feemed to have been more peculiarly affected in the living subject.

The firft of thefe patients had undergone all the feverities attending the fea bathing ufually practifed on thefe occafions; he had likewife taken the celebrated Ormskirk medicine: neverthelefs, in about a month after the bite, the hydrophobia appeared. The progress of the disease does not seem even to have been retarded (excepting a fhort feeming fufpenfion) by the exhibition of mufk, mercury, and opium in combination, and given in very large dofes. Of the latter, particularly, from which much advantage might be expected as an antifpafmodic, 57 grains were swallowed in the fpace of 14 hours, without producing any lafting fedative effect.

It is highly worthy of obfervation, that though between 20 and 30 perfons were bit by the fame dog that wounded this patient, fome of whom took the Ormskirk medicine, others only bathed, and the reft employed no remedy whatever, not one of them felt the leaft ill effect but himfelf. This uncertainty of the infection's taking place, after the bite of a mad animal, has doubtless greatly contributed to the temporary reputation which various prophylactics, or fuppofed prefervatives against this difeafe, have fucceffively acquired, and to which there is

perhaps

perhaps too much reason to fear that not one of them may be juftly intitled.

The other patient felt no symptoms of the hydrophobia till nine months after he had been bit. The difeafe, treated nearly as before, was ftill more rapid in its progrefs, and equally fatal in its termination.

On diffecting the first of thefe patients, the Author attentively examined all thofe parts of the body from which he could expect to derive any information, with refpect to the nature or feat of the diftemper. The abdominal mufcles, and vifcera, were found in a perfectly found ftate; nor did the ftomach, liver, or contents of the thorax, fhew the leaft figns of disease. The pain felt at the fcrobiculus cordis, and the difficulties and horror attending deglutition, could by no means be accounted for on an infpection of the parts concerned. The diaphragm had not undergone the leaft change: no veftige of inflammation could be perceived in the fophagus; nor upon the velum pendulum palati: nor could any morbid appearances be perceived either in the interior surface of the fauces, nor in the fuperior part of the larynx and pharynx, nor in the glottis.-The brain was not examined.

As a prophylactic, or preventive, it has been judiciously propofed to cauterize the part with a red-hot iron, immediately after the bite. On this head the Author offers what we confider as an improvement on this practice. He recommends a dilatation of the wound, if it fhould be fmall, and then filling it with gunpowder, and fetting fire to it.-Independent of the poffible good effects which may refult from the chemical action of the vitriolic acid or phlogiston on the poison, we should think that the infantaneity of the combuftion is likely, in general, to excite lefs horror and pain than the comparatively flow and protracted torture produced by a hot iron.

To these two unfortunate cafes a third, of a different kind, is added, which relates to the Cafarian fection, performed on a woman at the Leicester infirmary. On making the incifion, though the placenta immediately protruded, the child was extracted, without the leaft injury, in the courfe of a few feconds, and with very little lofs of blood. The mother however died on the fourth day :- a confequence,' fays the Author, that, I believe, will very generally follow fuch a wound of the uterus, with its unavoidable exposure to the air.'-The child, who was baptized under the name of Julius Cæfar, is a healthy fine boy, now four months old, and likely to live.'

ART. III. The Incas; or, the Deftruction of the Empire of Peru. By M. Marmontel. 12mo. 2 Vols. 6 s. Nourfe, &c. 1777.

T has been juftly objected to the mode of writing which this univerfally admired Author has adopted in this work, as well as in his Belifarius, that it requires an union of fiction and truth which is attended with material inconveniences. Unless the reader be perfectly mafter of the true hiftory with which the fictitious narrative is blended, he will be in continual danger of confounding them in his ideas, and miftaking the one for the other. As it will require no uncommon fhare of judgment and impartiality in the writer, to adhere ftrictly to the true characters and manners of the perfons of his drama, while he allows his fancy free fcope in forming the incidents of the narrative; fo it will be neceffary for the reader to exercife perpetual caution, that he be not led to entertain ideas of perfons and events which have no foundation in hiftory: and the apprehenfion of this will, in a great meafure, prevent the effect which the work is defigned to produce. It will perhaps tend more to obstruct the natural operation of juft fentiments and paffions in the mind of the reader, than all the writer's powers of genius and fancy can do to produce them.

For these reasons we cannot but be of opinion, that our Author would have been more likely to accomplish the end with which he profeffes to write, by adhering to the character of an hiftorian, and relating real facts, than by following his fancy into the regions of fiction and romance. This remark is, however, by no means offered with a view to depreciate the merit of this work; which bears fuch evident marks of fuperior genius and original invention, is written in a ftyle fo truly elegant and rhetorical, and above all is enriched with fuch a variety of juft and manly fentiments, and breathes fo liberal and catholic a fpirit, that it cannot fail of being read with approbation by all judges of good writing, and obtaining the warmest applaufe from every true lover of liberty and friend of mankind,

The great object of this work the Author declares to be, to expofe the horrid effects of fanaticism, and to bring into univerfal deteftation, that fpirit of intolerance and perfecution, of hatred and vengeance, which men entertain in behalf of a Deity whom they fuppofe to be incenfed, and whofe minifters they pretend to be; to guard mankind against the artifices and fury of this fpirit, and to infufe into their minds thofe great principles of humanity and univerfal concord, thofe maxims of indulgence and love, which religion, in concert with nature, hath made the abridgment of her laws, and the effence of her morality. To this laudable and meritorious defign every true friend

to

to human nature muft wifh fuccefs; in the execution of it, every one who merits the name of a man will heartily concur *. The tranflation of this work is, on the whole, well executed.

See, farther, the account of the original of this work, as a Foreign Article, in the Review for March, 1777, p. 216.

ART. IV. A Walk in and about the City of Canterbury, with many Obfervations not to be found in any Description hitherto published. By William Gofiling, M. A. a Native of the Place, and Minor Canon of the Cathedral. 8vo. Second Edition. 10 s. 6 d. Boards. Canterbury printed by Subfcription, and fold by Johnfon in London. 1777.

HE local nature of fuch hiftorical defcriptions as that

ΤΗ which is now before us, induced us to pafs over this

work, at its first publication, with only a flight notice. This fecond edition has, however, received the laft hand of its worthy Writer, who died while it was in the prefs; and it is but an act of justice to declare, that though from the confined nature of the fubject, Mr. G.'s book may feem dry, and tediously minute, to those who are unacquainted with the city, and the feveral objects defcribed; yet it contains many incidental paffages, which, while they fhew the extenfiveness of the Author's knowledge, will occafionally enliven the narration, even to the general reader.

Canterbury is a city of great antiquity; and, as the Author collects from the variety of British and Roman remains, was probably a place of confequence at the time of Cæfar's arrival in this ifland. From its metropolitical dignity, the cathedral is a rich fund of investigation for the ftudent in ecclefiaftical antiquities; and we intend no cenfure on the induftrious inquiries of Mr. Goftling, when we add that he has made the most of them. This part of his Walk, becomes the more interesting, by calling to our remembrance the manner in which our cathedrals were ftripped at the Reformation, and the brutal ravages made in them by the ignorant zealots of the last age.

Among the ancient treasures of this cathedral, or more properly the baits that drew treasures to it, were the bodies of St. Dunftan, and St. Thomas Becket; concerning which Mr. Goftling gives us the following anecdotes :

Near the high altar was that of St. Dunstan, whose body was had in fuch high account by Archbishop Lanfranc, that he removed it hither with great folemnity from its firft fepulchre when he newbuilt the church. It feems fated not to have lain long undisturbed in one place. He died about the year 988, and Lanfranc's coming hither was about 1070: when the fire happened in 1874, his remains were again removed with thofe of St. Alphage, to the altar of the Holy Cross in the nave of the church; and after being newly

habited,